THE LIFE AND TIMES OF FLORENCE BALLARD - YouTube THE LIFE AND TIMES OF FLORENCE BALLARD Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jan 12, 2013 ANY RUDE COMMENTS WILL BE DELETED........Vanessa(Channel Moderator)Few Motown Acts could be put into the same caliber of THE SUPREMES.The pretty much were R&B's music equivalent to What The Beatles were to Rock Music Listeners. The Supremes had a universal charm & appeal to them,their songs were likable as well,and had 7(Correction 12) # 1 Songs during the Years Of 1964 To 1969.

Florence Ballard was the founder of the group .Her very Soulful voice added great harmony to the group.Diana Ross's voice always came off a little popsy.Flo was cut loose from the group in 1967,replaced by Cindy Birdsong.Flo pretty much struggled the remainder of her short life,she did have a brief solo career (Audio In This Video LOVE ISN'T LOVE And FOREVER FAITHFUL) 2 nicely sung ballads by Flo made in the late 1960s. Florence left us too soon, On February 22,1976 she suffered a severe stroke and was pronounced dead.I recall at the age of 11 my mom and late grandmamma talking about her death. i was too young.All I knew was one of the Supremes died.

A Movie about Ms.Ballard is currently in the works , with actress Terry Dexter picked to play the role of Flo,Faith Evans declined the role.Jennifer Hudson's character in the 2005 Classic DREAM GIRLS was based on Florence Ballard Category Florence Ballard | The Supremes Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Florence Ballard (born Florence Glenda Ballard on June 30, 1943 in Detroit, Michigan) was one of the founding members of the Supremes. As a member of the group, she sang on sixteen top-40 singles (including ten number-one hit songs). In 1967, she was removed from the Supremes lineup and pursued a solo career which was unsuccessful. For five years, Florence struggled with alcoholism, depression & poverty. She attempted to make a comeback, but she sadly died of cardiac arrest in February of 1976 when she was only 32 years old. Florence's death was considered by one critic as "one of rock's greatest tragedies." Contents Edit Early photo of Florence Florence was born in Detroit, Michigan to Lurlee (née Wilson) and Jessie Ballard. She is of African-American, Native American & European-American descent.

She was the eighth of thirteen children in her family. Florence was described as smart, low-key and tomboyish. As a child, she earned two nicknames as a child: "Flo" and "Blondie" (due to her mixed-raced heritage & her light auburn hair). Lurlee was from Rosetta, Missisippi & Jessie was from Bessemer, Albama. Jessie was born under the name "Jesse Lambert." After Jessie's grandmother was shot & killed, he was adopted by another family named the Ballards & Jessie changed his surname to "Ballard." Jessie left his adoptive parents when he was 13 years old and engaged in an affair with Lurlee (who was only 14 years old at the time). In 1926, the Ballards moved to Detroit where Jessie soon worked at General Motors. Jessie was also an amateur musician & helped instigate Florence's interest in singing, teaching her various songs while accompanying her on the guitar. Due to financial struggles, Florence & her family moved frequently to different neighborhoods in Detroit. By the time Florence was 15 years old, she & her family settled at Detroit's Brewster-Douglass housing projects.

The following year, her father passed away from cancer. She attended Northeastern High School and was coached vocally by Abraham Silver. While in Northeastern, Florence met a girl from a different school named Mary Wilson as the two sang on the same talent show. Shortly after, they became friends. In 1959, she was spotted on her porch by a local talent scout named Milton Jenkins, then manager of the vocal group the Primes as he sought to find female vocalists to fill spots for a sister group of the Primes. Impressed by her vocals, Milton asked Florence if she knew any more singers. Ballard soon asked Mary to join the group who enlisted another neighbor Diane Ross . Betty Mcglown completed the original lineup and Milton named them the Primettes. After performing in sock hops and jubilees for much of a year, the group auditioned for Motown Records founder Berry Gordy after Motown staffer Richard Morris introduced the group to him.

Berry advised the then-underage vocal group to graduate from high school before auditioning again Shortly afterwards, Florence was raped at knife point by local high school basketball player Reggie Harding after leaving a sock hop at Detroit's Graystone Ballroom where she had attended with her brother, but they were separated accidentally. The rape occurred at an empty parking lot off of Woodward Avenue. Florence responded by secluding herself in her house, refusing to come outside, which worried her group-mates. Weeks later, she eventually told Mary and Diana about what happened. Even though Diana & Mary were sympathetic to what had happened to Florence, they were confused as she was considered to be strong-willed and unflappable. The rape was never mentioned again. Prior to the rape, Florence had been described by Mary and an early boyfriend named Jesse Greer as being a "generally happy if somewhat mischievous and sassy teenager." Mary believes that the rape incident heavily contributed to the more self-destructive aspects of Florence's adult personality such as her cynicism, pessimism and fear or mistrust of others.

The Supremes (1959-1967) Edit An early promotional photo of Florence with The Supremes Florence eventually returned to her career and the Primettes signed their first deal with local label Lupine Records, releasing one record called "Tears of Sorrow" which was backed up by a song called "Pretty Baby." Neither of the songs made the charts. Despite the assumption that Florence was the group's original lead vocalist, Diana and Mary sung lead on the respective songs. Following this, Betty McGlown was replaced by Barbara Martin . The group persisted on getting signed to Motown by sitting on the steps of Motown's Hitsville USA building and flirting with Motown's male artists & staffers. When a staff producer would come outside looking for people to provide background vocals or handclaps, the group would often participate. Florence eventually dropped out of high school even though the other girls graduated. Eventually, Berry Gordy allowed the girls to record songs with the label. In August of 1960, the group recorded a ballad called " After All " (which included all four members singing a lead part).

During that same year, the group recorded the songs " You Can Depend On Me ," I Want A Guy " and " Buttered Popcorn " (which featured Florence in her first song as the lead vocalist). During this period, they provided background vocals for established Motown acts such as Marvin Gaye, Marv Johnson and Mary Wells. In January of 1961, Gordy relented and allowed the group to be signed under the condition they change their name. Berry and staffer Janie Bradford wrote a list of names for the girls on a list. Jamie presented the list to Florence who picked the name "Supremes." Bradford presented the list to Ballard. Florence eventually picked the name "Supremes." Even though the other members felt that they would be mistaken for a male vocal group, the name stuck and Berry signed them to the label on January 15, 1961. Then, Motown Records issued "I Want A Guy" and "Buttered Popcorn." Even though neither of the singles charted, they were regional successes in Detroit. By the spring of 1962, Barbara left the group to get married and the rest of the group continued on as a trio.

During that same year, Ballard briefly left the group to perform with girl group The Marvelettes, replacing Wanda Young (who was on maternity leave at the time). In May of 1962, Florence returned to the Supremes and in June, they had their first charted single with " Your Heart Belongs To Me " (which was recorded before Barbara left the group). Between 1961 and 1963, eight of the Supremes' singles failed to chart successfully. Though there had been no designated lead vocalist in the Supremes, Berry Gordy felt Diana Ross' pop-oriented vocals would bring the group success. After the success of the single " When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes ," Diana was made the group's official lead singer from then on. In 1964, the Supremes scored their first number-one single, "Where Did Our Love Go" and eventually scored a total of three number-one singles in 1964 alone including "Baby Love" and "Come See About Me." By then, the group's live performances were given polish by Maurice King and Cholly Atkins. During live performances, the group incorporated standards.

Florence was given a lead vocal on the song, "People" (which became her trademark lead onstage for a number of years). Due to her onstage candor (which included telling jokes), she became popular with audiences & most of the jokes were in response to Diana Ross' comments. Florence sung lead sporadically on several of the Supremes albums (including a cover of Sam Cooke's song "(Ain't That) Good News" on the Supremes' tribute album " We Remember Sam Cooke "). According to Mary, Florence's vocals were so loud that she was made to stand seventeen feet away from her microphone during recording sessions. Florence's voice (which went up three octaves) was often described as "soulful, big, rich and commanding," ranging from deep contralto to operatic soprano. All in all, she contributed vocals to ten number-one pop hits and sixteen top forty hit singles between 1963 and 1967. Issues With Berry Gordy\Departing from The Supremes Despite the Supremes' rise to fame, Florence was reportedly depressed. She would later complain that their success had a negative impact on their once-close bond.

Florence told an interviewer in 1975 that she, Diana & Mary would have their own hotel rooms whereas in the past, they shared one hotel room. She also felt that Motown's role in making Diana a star was also having a negative impact on the group. To combat these issues and more, Florence turned to alcohol and constantly had arguments with Mary and Diana. She also began to have conflicts with Berry Gordy as she felt he had cheapened the group's sound from R&B music to pop music. One night in 1966 (prior to opening at the Copacabana supper club), Florence had come down with a sore throat and asked Diana to sing "People." Berry responded to this by having Diana lead the song from that point onward which depressed Florence and further deteriorated the relationship between her & Berry. During 1966, Florence started gaining weight and missing performances & some recording sessions. She would be replaced often with The Andantes' Marlene Barrow Eventually Cindy Birdsong (of The Bluebelles) became a stand-in for Florence throughout 1967. From that point, Detroiters saw Diana's relationship with Berry Gordy as the primary reason for Florence's decline.

According to Florence's daughters, Diana had stated that she was going to see to it that her children would receive royalty payments after Florence's death. According to Florence's children, these payments never came through which added to the tensions between the remaining Supremes and Berry Gordy. During that May, Florence returned to the group, thinking that her leave was only temporarily. In late June, Berry officially changed the group's name to "The Supremes with Diana Ross", which was billed atop the banner of Las Vegas' Flamingo Hotel. On July 1, 1967 (a day after her 24th birthday), Florence showed up inebriated during the group's third performance at the Flamingo and stuck her stomach out from her suit which angered Berry. After that, Berry ordered Florence to go back to Detroit with Cindy officially replacing her which abruptly ending her tenure with the group. It was decided as early May that Cindy would be the official replacement for Florence once her contract with the Bluebelles was bought out.

In August of 1967, the Detroit Free Press reported that Florence had taken a temporary leave of absence from the group due to "exhaustion." On February 22, 1968, Florence & Motown Records negotiated to have her released from the label. Florence's attorney in the matter received a one-time payment of $139,804.94 in royalties and earnings from Motown. As part of the settlement, she was advised to not promote her solo work as a former member of the Supremes. On February 29, 1968, Florence married her boyfriend Thomas Chapman. Attempt At a Solo Career Edit In March of 1968, Florence signed with ABC Records. With her husband as her manager, she released two solo singles with the label: "It Doesn't Matter How I Say It (It's What I Say Matters" & "Love Ain't Love." Neither singles made the charts at all & Florence's upcoming debut solo album with ABC Records was shelved. Due to this, Florence's settlement money was depleted from the Chapmans' management agency, Talent Management, Inc.

The agency had been led by Leonard Baun (Florence's attorney who had helped to settle her issues with Motown Records). Following news that Leonard was facing multiple charges of embezzlement, she fired him. Florence continued to perform as a solo artist, opening for Bill Cosby in September of that same year at Chicago's Auditorium Theater. In October of 1968, she gave birth to her twin daughters Michelle and Nicole. In January of 1969, Florence performed at one of President Richard Nixon's inaugural balls. Despite these successes, her solo career suffered and she eventually was dropped from ABC Records in 1970. Decline Edit In July of 1971, Florence sued Motown Records for additional royalty payments that she believed she was due to receive, but was defeated in court by Motown. During that same year, she gave birth to a third daughter named Lisa. Shortly afterwards, she and her Thomas separated after several domestic disputes. Also in that same year, her home was foreclosed. Facing poverty and depression, Florence developed alcoholism and shied away from the spotlight. In 1972, she moved into her sister Maxine's house.

In 1974, Mary invited Florence to join the Supremes (which now included Cindy Birdsong and Scherrie Payne at the Six Flags Magic Mountain in California. Even though she played tambourine, Florence didn't sing and told Mary that she had no ambition to sing anymore. Later that year, Florence's plight started to be reported in newspapers as word got around that she had applied for welfare. Around that time, Florence entered Henry Ford Hospital for rehab treatment. After six weeks of treatment, she slowly started recovering. Comeback In early 1975, Florence received an insurance settlement from her former attorney's insurance company. The settlement money helped her buy a home in Detroit's Shaftsbury Avenue. Inspired by the financial success, Florence decided to return to singing and also reconciled with her husband. On June 25, 1975, her first concert performance (in more than five years) took place at the Henry and Edsel Ford Auditorium in Detroit, Michigan. Florence performed as part of the Joan Little Defense League and was backed up by female rock group The Deadly Nightshade.

Following this, she began receiving offers for interviews with Jet magazine being one of the first to report on Florence and her recovery. Also, Florence was in talks to sign a new record deal & was starting to write her autobiography documenting her life and career. Death Edit On February 21, 1976, Florence entered Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital, complaining of numbness in her extremities. The following morning, she died at 10:05 a.m. from cardiac arrest which caused by a coronary thrombosis (which means there was a blood clot in one of her coronary arteries). Florence is buried in Detroit Memorial Park Cemetery located in Warren, Michigan. Florence's Legacy Edit Florence's story has been referenced in a number of works by other musicians.

Mississippian Steve Forbert's 1980 song "Romeo's Tune" (from his album "Jackrabbit Slim") is "dedicated to the memory of Florence Ballard." Billy Bragg's song "King James Version from his album "William Bloke" contains the line "Remember the sadness in Florence Ballard's eyes." On hip-hop artist Nas' 2006 album "Hip Hop is Dead," he mentiones the rivalry between Diana & Florence on the track "Blunt Ashes" with the lyrics: "When Flo from the Supremes died/Diana Ross cried/Many people said that she was laughing inside." In Stephen King's short story "You Know They Got a Hell of a Band," he includes Florence as one of the deceased artists who performs in a town called “Rock and Roll Heaven.” The 1981 Broadway musical "Dreamgirls" (which chronicles a fictional group called "The Dreams" and a number of plot components parallel events in the Supremes’ career). The character of Effie White (who was like Florence Ballard) is criticized for being overweight & is fired from the group.

In 2006, the film version of "Dreamgirls" was released & featured more overt references to Florence's life and the Supremes' story (including gowns and album covers that are direct copies of Supremes originals). Jennifer Hudson won a Golden Globe Award and Academy Award for her portrayal of Effie White in the film. In her Golden Globe acceptance speech, Jennifer dedicated her win to Florence. The music video for Diana Ross' song "Missing You" pays tribute to Marvin Gaye, Florence and Paul Williams (who were all former Motown artists who had died). In 1988, Florence was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Supremes alongside Diana Ross and Mary Wilson. Florence Ballard - Singer - Biography.com Florence Ballard Singer Florence Ballard formed The Supremes in 1961 with childhood friends Mary Wilson and Diana Ross. She sang on 16 different Top 40 hits.

IN THESE GROUPS Famous People Who Died in United States Synopsis Born in Detroit in 1943, singer Florence Ballard, became famous in the 1960s as a member of The Supremes, a group which she started with childhood friends Mary Wilson and Diana Ross. She sang on 16 different Top 40 hits but left the group in 1967 after a dispute with Motown Records. She died on February 22, 1976 in Detroit, Michigan at only 32 years old. Teen Singer Florence Ballard was born in Detroit, Michigan, on June 30, 1943. The ninth in a household of many children, Florence Ballard and her large family moved around frequently among different public housing projects before finally settling down in the Brewster-Douglass Projects in 1958. Ballard participated in the church choir from an early age. Lovingly referred to as "Blondie" because of her auburn hair and mixed racial heritage, Ballard would befriend a neighborhood girl named Mary Wilson after competing against her in several local talent shows.

Milton Jenkins of The Primes (a singing group which would later become The Temptations) was recruiting girls to audition for an all-female quartet when he became impressed by Ballard's singing style at a talent show. Having outdone herself at the audition, Ballard was commissioned by Jenkins to find other members to form The Primes' new sister group, The Primettes. Ballard immediately invited her good friend Mary Wilson, who in turn recruited another neighborhood pal, Diane Earle, later known as Diana Ross. Betty McGlown soon completed the quartet. (McGlown would leave the group in 1962 and was replaced by Barbara Martin. When Martin also quit the group, Ballard, Wilson and Ross decided it would remain a trio.) Suffered Major Trauma In the summer of 1960, a 17-year-old Ballard endured a tragic incident that would permanently shape her personality and shift her previously happy outlook on life to a mistrust and fear of strangers. After leaving a sock hop at Detroit's Graystone Ballroom one warm summer night, Ballard was separated from her brother Billy and accepted a ride home from a young man whom she thought she recognized, a local high-school basketball player.

Instead of being driven home, Ballard was taken north of Detroit to an empty parking lot where the man raped her at knife point. For the next several weeks, Ballard secluded herself from public, even hiding from her bewildered band mates who knew nothing of the horrible event that had transpired. Finally, Ballard told her group mates what happened to her. Although the girls were sympathetic, they remained confused about Ballard's new behavior; she had always been a headstrong, unflappable character, but now there was an apparent change in her persona. Mary Wilson would later attribute Ballard's personality as an adult and subsequent self-destructive behavior to the assault Ballard experienced when she was a teen. Signing With Motown Records The Primettes never officially designated anyone as the lead vocalist, so often the group would just sing in unison or swap roles among the trio as lead singer. After a couple years performing at sock hops and jubilees, the group signed with Motown Records as The Supremes, a name chosen by Ballard, on January 15, 1961. Ballard sang lead vocals on the hit "Buttered Popcorn" when she was just 17 years old.

Her voice was so powerful on the track that studio engineers requested that she stand 17 feet away from the microphone while she sang. During this period, Ballard also stood in for Wanda Young of the Marvelettes, who was out on maternity leave. (Gladys Horton, lead singer of The Marvelettes, sought Ballard's advice before she famously recorded "Please Mr. Postman.") Although Ballard had a huge and soulful voice, she never sang lead again on another released 45 single for the group. In 1963, Motown leader Berry Gordy named Diana Ross lead singer of The Supremes. However, Ballard did sing lead parts throughout her Supremes career on several album tracks. Most famous were the second verses of "It Makes No Difference Now" from The Supremes Sing Country Western And Pop and "Ain't That Good News" from We Remember Sam Cooke, plus the Christmas songs "Silent Night" and "O Holy Night." Leaving The Supremes Over the next several years, the relationship between Ballard and Berry Gordy became more and more strained, as the all-powerful Motown boss sought to make Diana Ross the star of The Supremes.

By the time Gordy renamed the act Diana Ross and The Supremes in 1967, Ballard had begun to retaliate by skipping scheduled public appearances and studio sessions. Her last performance with the legendary trio came in Las Vegas in June 1967, with Gordy bringing in vocalist Cindy Birdsong as a replacement. By August of the same year, the Detroit Free Press reported that she was taking a leave of absence from The Supremes to recover from "exhaustion." In reality, Gordy had booted her from the group. Ballard married a Motown chauffeur named Thomas Chapman in February 1968 and quickly hired him as her new manager after her departure from the label. Ballard released the singles "It Doesn't Matter How I Say It (It's What I Say That Matters)" and "Love Ain't Love" on ABC Records, but the singles failed to chart. Ballard's album for ABC was shelved, sending her musical career into a downward spiral. Ballard also faced financial troubles after hiring an alleged embezzler as her business attorney; she later sued him for money owed after discovering he had been skimming off the top of her earnings.

To add insult to injury, there were stipulations in Ballard's new contract with ABC that forbade Ballard from mentioning her earlier membership in The Supremes for promotional use or marketing any of her albums. In October 1968, Ballard gave birth to twin girls Michelle and Nicole Chapman. She had a third child, Lisa, in 1971. Troubles in her personal life continued, however, as Thomas left Ballard later that year, causing her home to go into foreclosure. Ballard's financial woes worsened because she refused to return to the stage. With three young girls at home and no income, she eventually had to file for welfare. Early Death Ballard's string of bad luck began to turn in 1975 when her former attorney's office settled an insurance dispute with her. The settlement allowed her to purchase a small home for herself and her three children. Ballard also reconciled with her estranged husband. Fueled by a resurgence of energy, she began performing again with the female rock group The Deadly Nightshade. Following her return to the world of music, Ballard was booked for several television and magazine interviews and began exploring ways to revive her career.

Just when Ballard's life finally seemed to be on an upward swing, tragedy struck. On February 21, 1976, she was checked into Detroit's Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital. She died the next day of a blood clot on one of her coronary arteries according to examiners. She was only 32 years old. Questions have arisen about the cause of Ballard's death over the years, with her sister Maxine Ballard Jenkins alleging that there was foul play. Ballard's short life witnessed more than its share of disappointment and sadness. But her contribution to music, especially as a member of The Supremes, brought joy to fans around the world. Ballard sang on 16 different Top 40 hits; she, Diana Ross, and Mary Wilson dazzled the world with their talent and style, becoming role models to millions of people. Related Videos Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us ! Citation Information THE FIRST SUPREME By Alan White Although her story has never been written, enough information has been printed about Florence Ballard over the years to give the public more than a casual knowledge of her life.

Born in Detroit on 30 June 1943, Florence was the eighth of Jesse and Lurlee Ballard's thirteen children. Almost from the start, music played an important part in her life. Her father was her first teacher. Even though he spent most of his time working in the automobile factory to support his family, Jesse Ballard was never too tired to pursue his hobby of playing the guitar and singing. Florence showed a strong interest in his music. In turn, he would play special songs and teach her to sing them. These early lessons made a deep impression. Soon she was outsinging her father. Her talent quickly earned her a reputation in the neighborhood. In the Brewster Housing Project where the Ballards lived, Florence delighted the neighbors with her clear, powerful voice as she casually sang the hits played on the radio. Her musical gift was hard to go unnoticed. As she grew older she found an outlet for her singing in school music classes and choirs. While in her early teens, Florence's career was set in motion. Two of her neighbors, Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams, sang in an upcoming group called the Primes (later to become the Temptations).

They brought her to the,attention of their manager, Milton Jenkins, who was so impressed with the 14-year-old's voice that he asked her to perform as a soloist along with the Primes. After Florence appeared with this group in a few engagements, Jenkins knew he had found an outstanding talent. Since groups were so popular in the late fifties, he suggested that Florence form a sister group to the Primes with himself as their manager. Florence liked the idea and immediately asked her friend, Mary Wilson, to be a member of the group. Betty McGlown and Mary's friend, Diana Ross, were also recruited. After gaining their parent's permission, the four teenagers, in the spring of 1959, became officially known as the Primettes. They began rehearsals with Florence as the lead singer. The girls had their work cut out for them and approached it with zeal. They spent as much time as possible after school and on weekends learning songs, rehearsing harmonies, and perfecting their look. Jenkins found the girls so well-rehearsed that he made a special effort to promote them. As a result, the Primettes were performing at record hops, talent shows, and special engagements.

As polished an act as they were, however, the Primettes frequently performed without pay. But on the positive side, they gained valuable experience and a local following. Life was not without its difficulties during these early stages of Florence's group. Sometimes, just getting everyone together at the same time for rehearsals presented a major challenge. If a group member was needed at home for chores, or if a girl's parents felt she was spending more time at singing than on her schoolwork, her attendance at rehearsals would be limited or halted until the obligation was satisfied. Then there was the problem of finding a replacement for Betty McGlown, who left the group. Fortunately, Barbara Martin was quickly brought in to fill the gap. Soon the Primettes were looking for a record company. Diana Ross contacted her former neighbor, Smokey Robinson, who was singing with the Miracles. Through him she arranged for the Primettes to audition with Berry Gordy of Motown Records. After listening to the eager teenagers, Gordy told them to come back after they had graduated from high school. The girls did not let this brush-off take away their enthusiasm. They were so intrigued by Motown and its artists that they visited the studio whenever possible, becoming almost permanent fixtures there.

Finally, they were allowed to perform simple background parts on recordings such as hand claps. While busy opening doors for themselves at Motown, the Primettes also kept an eye out for any record company willing to sign them. Luck soon struck - or so they thought - when they landed a contract with a small label, Lupine Records. On this label, they released "Tears of Sorrow" and "Pretty Baby." Both were flops. In 1961, Gordy signed the Primettes to a contract with Motown. Shortly after their first single, "I Want A Guy," was released, Barbara Martin dropped out of the group. Gordy decided to let the group remain a trio. Although everyone knew that Florence had the stronger, more developed voice, Gordy decided to make Diana the lead singer because she had a sound he believed would "cross over" and appeal to white audiences. While Diana was the official lead singer, she, Florence, and Mary still shared leads on recordings as well as in live performances.

For example, their second record, "Who's Lovin' You," featured Diana as the lead singer but it was the flip side, "Buttered Popcorn," with Florence on lead, that got all the attention. As several writers noted, this song could have been a hit but for some curious reason was not promoted by Motown. Several changes in the group altered the course of popular music. Shortly after Barbara's departure, the Primettes were renamed the Supremes. Florence chose the name from a list of possibilities because, in her words, "I liked the way it sounded." At first, neither the new name nor the trio status made any difference. Within the next two years the Supremes released six records, all of which were failures. The group was jokingly referred to around Motown as the "no hit Supremes." But the jokes soon stopped. In June 1964, the Supremes released "Where Did Our Love Go." Within three weeks the song had climbed to the top of the national record charts. It began a string of five consecutive number one hits in a one-year period which included "Come See About Me," "Stop!

In the Name of Love," and "Back in My Arms Again." The Supremes had struck gold. They advanced from the bottom of the roster to become the most important act at Motown. Between 1964 and 1967, the group had ten number one records on the national music charts. Their eighteen albums released during this period were also top sellers. They were the number one American recording group. In addition to appearing on every major national television variety show and playing to sold out audiences at the choicest concert venues throughout the world, the Supremes performed commercials for Coca-Cola, public service organizations, Arid Deodorant, and even had a loaf of bread named after them. What made the group succeed was a combination of chemistry, image, and musical style. The group's chemistry was the product of years of personal involvement. Florence, Diana, and Mary were close friends who lived out their girlhoods together and loved each other as sisters. They shared the same vision, spent years perfecting and bringing it to reality, and loved what they were doing. This emotional involvement and unity of purpose is what made the three click as a group. It generated the electricity and perfect harmony which radiated throughout their performances.

If chemistry was one ingredient of the Supremes' success, their image was another. Their image was shaped out of contradictions. Here were three young black women straight out of Detroit's Brewster Housing Projects, who had grown up in low-income surroundings-is. But there was something about their svelte figures, tasteful wardrobe, and the graceful manner in which they moved and spoke, that denied their background and suggested the finest upbringing. Then there was the music. The Supremes took rhythm and blues, which, in the sixties was an exclusively black form of music, and stylized it with a pop flair. The result was a new sound that appealed to a broad audience, crossing social, age, racial, and cultural categories. And this flew sound helped make the Supremes international stars. Playing the definitive role in the group's success were the young women themselves. Each contributed something unique to the group. Diana's enthusiasm and Mary's charm blended with Florence's quiet dignity to give the Supremes their mystique. Florence also stood out in a different way. She had a wonderful sense of humor that never failed to touch those around her.

Perhaps it was for this reason that the Supremes' writers would create funny lines for her in the group's stage act. During live performances, she always managed to interject a comment at just the right moment which never failed to bring the house clown with laughter. As the Supremes reached the peak of popularity in 1967, Florence left the group. She was replaced by Cindy Birdsong. The group was renamed Diana Ross and the Supremes. The official explanation for Florence's departure was that she wanted to spend more time with her family. Later on, the cause of her leaving would become the subject of much rumor and controversy. After a brief rest, Florence started a new phase of her life. She married Thomas Chapman in February 1968. A month later she signed a two-year contract with ABC Records. George Kerr, a former Motown producer, produced her first single, "It Doesn't Matter How I Say It." This happy-go-lucky tune was cute, had a teenage innocence and a catchy beat. But despite these features, the song went nowhere on the sales charts due to poor distribution and promotion. Meanwhile, Florence put the finishing touches on her debut album.

Titled "You Don't Have To," the album was never released. Instead, another single, "Love Ain't Love," was released in the fall of 1968. Produced by Bob Bateman, also from Motown, the record made a showing on the local charts in Detroit. But like the first single, "Love Ain't Love" failed to garner any success. It, too, was inadequately distributed and promoted. Despite the problem with her records, Florence made personal appearances and was well received by the public. She performed in Atlantic City, appeared on several television shows on the east coast, and was the opening act for Wilson Pickett. In October 1968, she rode in a Chicago parade with comedian Godfrey Cambridge. After the birth of her twins, Michelle and Nicole, she continued to work, performing with Bill Cosby at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago and at President Richard Nixon's inauguration party. Around mid-1969, her career came to a standstill. Much of her time and energy were taken up with several lawsuits which she had initiated. Also, her growing family added a new responsibility to her life. A third daughter, Lisa, was born in 1972.

Though her life was busier and more complicated than ever, Florence was not deterred from setting her career back in order. The media kept a watchful eye on her life and gave periodic reports. By late spring 1975, she was ready to renew her career. She sang to a full house at Detroit's Ford Auditorium on 25 June 1975, receiving standing ovations. Her lawsuit against her former attorney was settled and she received a large cash settlement. She reconciled with her husband, bought a new house, and made several television appearances. Her life was busier and happier than it had been in several years. She was back on top. However, her health took a turn for the worse. She was stricken with a sudden illness and had to be rushed to the hospital. A day later, on 22 February 1976, she quietly passed away at the age of 31. Though she departed this life before she could renew her career, Florence continues to live through the wonderful legacy of the Supremes.

The Supremes Tweet The most successful American performers of the 1960s, The Supremes for a time rivalled even The Beatles reeling off five No.1 singles in a row. The Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts and are, to date, America's most successful vocal group with 12 No.1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1959 two fifteen year olds, Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson, met at a talent show. Milton Jenkins, who managed a local doo wop group the Primes, wanted a sister group to accompany the Primes for stage performances. Jenkins asked Ballard to put together such an act. Ballard remembered Wilson and the two of them brought in sixteen year old Betty Travis. Prime's member Paul Williams, (who went on to form the Temptations), recommended a fifteen year old from Detroit's Brewster Housing project, Diane Ross. Jenkins named the group the Primettes after Diane's parents gave their permission for her to join.

In the same year they met Ross' neighbour William "Smokey" Robinson and auditioned for him in the basement of the home of his girlfriend Claudette Rogers in hopes of getting to Motown's Berry Gordy. Rogers would later become Robinson's wife and an original member of the Miracles. The audition turned into a dead end, but they did audition for Gordy later, singing the Drifters' "There Goes My Baby." Gordy told them to come back after they completed high school. Undaunted the girls began hanging out in Motown's office reception room. They continued doing local talent shows where they were spotted by Richard Morris, who brought them to Lupine Records owner/producer Bob West. They recorded two sides "Pretty Baby" with Wilson on lead and "Tears of Sorrow" with Ross on lead for West. Released in 1960, the record went nowhere and they were soon back hanging around Motown again, doing handclaps on Marvin Gaye's early records and singing some backups for blues artist Mabel John. In January 1961 Gordy signed them, but required them to change their name. Ballard who had formed the group named them The Supremes.

Wilson and Ross initially disliked the name, but Gordy approved. By this time Ross was calling herself Diana Ross. The first two singles ï¿½I Want A Guyï¿½ and ï¿½Buttered Popcornï¿½ failed to make the charts and more releases failed to sell. The 1962 single release "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" gave The Supremes their first Top 30 hit (No. 23) and in the same year they stuck gold with the Hollandï¿½Dozierï¿½Holland penned "Where Did Our Love Go" which gave them their first of five US No.1 hits in a row. More hits followed and during 1965 -1967 The Supremes once again topped the charts with "I Hear a Symphony", "You Can't Hurry Love", "You Keep Me Hangin' On", "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" and "The Happening".

Also in 1966, their ninth studio album The Supremes A Go-Go gave the girls their first US No.1 and the first album by an all-female group to reach the top of the Billboard 200 album charts. During 1967, Motown president Berry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross & The Supremes, and replaced Ballard with Cindy Birdsong. Ross left to pursue a solo career in 1970 and was replaced by Jean Terrell, at which point the group's name reverted to The Supremes. After 1972, the line-up changed more frequently; Lynda Laurence, Scherrie Payne, and Susaye Greene all became members of the group during the mid-1970s, (The Supremes disbanded in 1977 after 18 years). Following her departure from the Supremes in 1970, Ross released her debut solo album, Diana Ross, which contained the hits "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" and the No.1 hit "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". She released the album Touch Me in the Morning in 1973.

Its title track reached No. 1, becoming her second solo hit. By 1975, the Mahogany soundtrack included her 3rd No.1 hit "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)". Her 1980 album Diana spawned the No.1 hit "Upside Down" and the international hit "I'm Coming Out". After leaving Motown, Ross achieved her sixth and final No.1 hit with the duet "Endless Love". In July 1971 Ballard sued Motown for royalty payments she believed she was due to receive; she was defeated in court by Motown. Later that year Ballard's plight started to be reported in newspapers as word got around that the singer had applied for welfare. Florence Ballard died on February 22, 1976. In 1981, the Tony Award-winning musical Dreamgirls opened at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway and ran for 1,522 performances. The musical, loosely based on the history of the Supremes, follows the story of the Dreams, an all-female singing trio from Chicago who become music superstars.

A film adaptation of Dreamgirls was released by DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures in December 2006. MORE FROM THIS DAY IN MUSIC See music landmarks in our free iPhone and iPad app - Rocking All Over The World

Question: Who replaced Florence Ballard in the Supremes
Answer: Cindy Birdsong